Sexual Assault Stopped on Austin Running Path by Armed Citizen

Many of you who have seen Law & Order know that one of the most dangerous places you could be on the show is a running path when you are on your morning jog. Unfortunately, reality nearly mirrored the fictional world portrayed on the show if it weren’t for the big heart and quick thinking mind of an armed citizen.

At around 5:45 in the morning on Friday, September 22nd a woman whose name has not been released to the press was out for a run on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail near East Avenue and Cummings Street in Austin when she was quickly approached by 22-year-old Richard Jordon McEachern from behind.

What happened next was a disgusting attempted assault by McEachern which included pulling off the woman’s shoes and running shorts and according to the Austin PD’s affidavit of the incident “The victim was grabbed behind by the suspect with both the suspect’s arms, (bear hug), The victim said they fell to the ground and she was on her back and the suspect was on top of her.” The statement also said that the woman reported the attacker forced his hand over her mouth and kept saying “shh, it’s me baby, it’s me” as she attempted to call for help as best she could.

Fortunately, the noise that the victim was making was loud enough for another jogger to hear. But this wasn’t just any jogger. This was a well-armed citizen who decided it was his duty to help when he approached the scene and saw a pant-less McEachern over the enraged and terrified woman.

The jogger shined a flashlight that he was carrying into the eyes of McEachern and pointed his gun at him. As the jogger told McEachern to back away from the woman, McEachern decided to book it, disgustingly grabbing his victim’s shoes and shorts in his escape.

At that moment the armed citizen and victim got their bearings before several other joggers came over to assist in the situation and call the authorities.

A crowd of people were helping the victim when the police arrived and received information and statements on the situation and McEachern. Thankfully the search for him was quick as McEachern was picked up by police and now awaits a trial for his actions.

What do you think of the selfless act of the armed citizen hero in this story? Would you be prepared to act if called upon like this story’s carrier? Let us know in the comments below.